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A Side of Hong Kong You've Never Seen Before

Sophie Steiner ShanghaiWOWeng 2018-11-30

Whether it was for a visa run, a break from Shanghai life or just a fun getaway, chances are you’ve probably already been to Hong Kong. With dozens of daily direct flights from Shanghai and the fact that it’s just a two-hour popover, it’s easy to spend a long weekend there.

 


Just like New York City, everyone who's visited Hong Kong has their own list of favorite bars, restaurants, and shopping spots - enough to effortlessly fill an itinerary. Yet, the city also has quite a few off-the-beaten-path gems that make it worth visiting time and again.



I love Victoria Peak, the mid-level escalators, and meandering around Wan Chai just as much as the next person, but after a while, I’m craving to see a more unique side of Hong Kong.



Luckily, getting out of the city center, or finding hidden spots in the vicinity of downtown Hong Kong that epitomize its one-of-a-kind charm is much easier and convenient than you would think.


Experience the Great Outdoors by Hiking Sharp Peak


Photo Credit: Flickr user ystsoi

 

Sharp’s Peak (aka Nam She Tsim) is an active way to spend a day outside the city. The hike itself is quite hard, so if you’re looking for a fun way to get your heart rate up and work off some of those extra calories from all the good eats Hong Kong has to offer, this is a great option. With breath-taking views and an exclusive beach at the end, the huge payoff is a worthy attraction in and of itself.


The hike starts out with some incredible views across Kowloon while you walk along a paved path of the Maclehose 2 Trail. In the distance, you can see the steep incline of Sharp Peak. You will pass through wooded areas filled with abandoned buildings, completely overgrown and covered in twisting vines. After veering onto the path where the Sharp Peak trail begins, the paved road becomes rocky dirt that gets steeper and steeper until you’re at the point of scrambling up on all fours.


 

Finally, when you think you can’t go any further you’ll reach the summit! expect expansive and magnificent views that spread across Kowloon and the ocean, leaving you with a memorable experience to share back home.



From the top of the peak back down to Tai Wan beach is another 1.5 hours, and by the time you reach the bottom, you’ll definitely be ready for a swim. The beach is the biggest reward since there’s only a handful of people there. You can only get to this beach by hiking, so everyone who makes it really deserves it.


 

When you arrive at the two twin beaches, walk along the first much more deserted one. When you get to the end of that beach, veer over the path that goes through the forest area for about 10 minutes to get across to the second beach.

 


At the entrance of the second beach, there’s a small food shack that serves excellent fat, chewy stir-fried udon noodles for HKD 68. Although a bit steep for some fried noodles, they are so delicious and well deserved after such a long hike.

 

Visit one of Hong Kong’s Last Gaming Arcades



Address: B1, 65 Argyle Street, Mongkok

 

Located on the basement level of a clothing warehouse-esque shopping mall, step into a nerd's paradise at Game Zone Mongkok. You can spend hours trying out all the different games without any repeats. Dance up a storm, become a getaway driver, save the galaxy, and perform as a drumming superstar all for just a few Hong Kong dollars each. Be prepared for a noise, visual, and smell sensory overload, and somewhere between the bright lights, blaring music, and cigarette smoke, hours can easily pass by in the blink of an eye.



Just a few blocks north of the arcade, satisfy your tummy at Man Wah restaurant - a Hong Kong diner serving up fantastic breakfast food everyday from 7am-3am. Make sure to order the Hong Kong Style French Toast (HKD 20). Smothered in condensed milk and topped with a thick pad of creamy butter, you’ll be dreaming about it later.

 

Sample the Tastiest Char Siu at Joy Hing

 

Photo credit: Flickr user boo lee

 

Address: G/F, C Block, 265 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai

 

You can’t leave Hong Kong without eating char siu at least once, but leaving without having the best char siu in the city is a crime. Don’t make the mistake of stopping at just any random roasted meat shop and assuming you’ve checked the box. Instead, visit Joy Hing and never waste a mouthful on anything less than the perfect char siu of all time.

 

Char siu is Cantonese style BBQ pork, seasoned with a mixture of honey, five-spice powder, fermented bean curd, dark soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sherry or rice wine. The pork is then roasted over an open fire until all of the seasoning and sauces caramelize together, giving the meat it’s recognizable red, charred exterior. The meat is tender and succulent with its signature flavor that combines sweet and savory components. 



Joy Hing is a tiny hole-in-the-wall meat shop that, on the surface, doesn't look any different than any other meat shop in Hong Kong, but the food is leaps and bounds above the rest. The meat is juicy, succulent, tender and crispy on the outside, the perfect char siu flavor and texture characteristics. The sauce is sweet and sticky, and the meat has just the right amount of fat to leave your lips glistening and your tummy happy.


Explore a Nearby Fishing Village

 


Hong Kong comprises over 260 islands, many of which still have people living on them in fishing and farming villages. Skip Tai-O on the over-crowded Lantau island or the expat-heavy Lamma island and instead opt for either Cheng Chau island or the smaller Peng Chau island.


Getting to many of the islands near Hong Kong has been made convenient by hopping on oft-running and very affordable ferries leaving from Central Pier. You can even pay for them with your Octopus transit card!



Cheng Chau is an all-in-one island, with a laid-back fishing village vibe but loads of street snacks, beautiful architecture, and fun hikes to fill a day trip from the city. Hop on a ferry from Central Pier 5 for HKD 29, and enjoy the 30-minute cruise to the island. Upon arrival, hike around the coasts, which are full of well-marked trails through forests and up hillsides overlooking the ocean. The Northern Trail (about 1 hour of hiking) has spectacular scenery and picturesque views of the ocean. Stop at Cheung Po Tsai Cave and Pak Tai Temple for some ancient rock carvings, or enjoy Tung Wan (East Bay) Beach for pure R&R.



After some hiking, you’ll be ready for a seafood feast at one of the many open-air seafood restaurants lining the main street near the pier. Most restaurants have a similar setup where the more dishes you order, the cheaper the prices get.

 

Don’t miss Happy Dessert for a sweet and refreshing Lo Mai Chi (mochi cake). These glutinous rice cakes are a Cheung Chau island specialty and are filled with anything you want from red bean paste to durian or fresh mango slices.  

 

Wander the Up-and-Coming Tai Hang Neighborhood

 


This newly developing neighborhood is full of cool cafés, restaurants, and beer spots. The small alleys are a mishmash of old and new, with Hello Kitty Cafes next door to auto-repair shops. Grab a late brunch at Dà kēng yuán pǐn chē zǐ miàn chá canting (大坑源品車仔麵茶餐廳) at 18 King Street where they rock killer breakfast sandwiches with the fluffiest eggs of all time.

 

The rice-topped omelets covered in shrimp, char siu, or any other meat of your choice are the real show-stoppers, especially when doused in a sweet, caramelized dark soy sauce. Order up a Hong Kong milk tea and some peanut butter toast and wander the rest of the neighborhood’s fun nooks and crannies.

 


Pick up a serving of Lab Made Ice Cream, in creative flavors like Move Theater Caramel Popcorn. Instead of regular ice cream, Lab Made freezes the cream using liquid nitrogen for a creamier product. Each serving is made to order and just as fun to watch it being made as it is to eat it!

 

By now you'll likely be thirsty, and there’s no better spot to rehydrate than Second Draft, a craft beer bar with over 20 taps, six cocktails, and an afternoon happy hour where an increasing consumption of alochol drived prices down. With friendly staff and a happening vibe, you can easily kill a few hours here before dinner.

 


Hong Kong really does have everything. From city to nature; skyscrapers to excellent hiking; Michelin star dining to no-name bakeries in fishing towns; international spots to Cantonese places where not a word of English is spoken; craft breweries to upscale cocktail bars, and local breakfast stands to high-end imported dessert shops, there’s something for everyone!

 

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